IANGEL Advocacy Actions - International Action Network for Gender Equity & Law

End Attacks on Afghan Women’s Human Rights Defenders

Manizha Sediqi, a brave Afghan women’s human rights defender, took to the streets demanding an end to oppression. Since the forceful takeover by the Taliban, women have faced forced disappearance, imprisonment, torture, and even death for demanding basic human rights such as education and employment. Because she chose to speak out, Manizha was abducted in October 2023 and recently sentenced to two years in prison by the Taliban. On April 1st, IANGEL signed a letter from FEMENA urging the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to raise Manizha’s case and demand her immediate release. We must end attacks on human rights defenders and other civic actors and ensure the safety and rights of Afghan women.

Gender Apartheid is a Crime Against Humanity

After receiving official comments from six UN Member States in January 2024, criminalizing gender apartheid will now be a live issue for discussion in April at the upcoming UNGA 6th Committee session on the Draft Convention on Crimes Against Humanity. On March 15th, IANGEL signed a letter alongside 300+ organizations and individuals urging UN Member States to declare support for moving the draft treaty on crimes against humanity into negotiations. The draft treaty on crimes against humanity represents an opportunity to fill a crucial gap in international law, and is a huge step in the #EndGenderApartheid movement. Read the treaty here.

IANGEL signs amicus brief in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine

On January 30th 2024, IANGEL signed onto the latest amicus brief in the FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine case, in support of mifepristone as a safe option for medication abortions. The brief warns of the danger of restricting access to the medication nationwide, especially for patients in communities facing the most obstacles to care. Read the amicus brief in full here.

Standing in solidarity with Afghan women human rights defenders

Many courageous Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) that tirelessly advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan have been forcibly taken by the Taliban. The Taliban’s relentless efforts to silence their voices have escalated into threats, abductions, torture, and even killings. IANGEL stands in solidarity with these brave women fighting against oppression and on November 6th 2023, signed a letter by Femena demanding immediate action to support and protect Afghan WHRDs and advocating for their release from Taliban prisons.

UN member states must add gender apartheid to the definition of apartheid in draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention

IANGEL joined jurists, scholars, public figures, and civil society representatives from across the world in a joint letter urging UN Member States to codify the crime of gender apartheid in the draft crimes against humanity treaty, submitted to the UN Sixth Committee in October 2023. IANGEL is proud to stand with Afghan and Iranian women’s rights defenders in urging the UN General Assembly to codify gender apartheid in the proposed crimes against humanity treaty. We must recognize institutionalized, systematized gender oppression for what it is: apartheid.

IANGEL signs letter calling on governments to address UAE human rights abuses

On September 13, 2023, IANGEL signed a letter alongside 200 global organizations to demand that the international community pursue accountability for the UAE’s history of repressive behavior at home and abroad ahead of the COP28 climate conference. The letter, addressed to the participating governments at COP28, urges that UAE cannot be given a free pass for its abysmal human rights record on the COP stage, and that “climate justice and human rights are deeply interconnected – there cannot be one without the other.” Read the letter in full here.

Victory for female employees in Hamilton v. Dallas County!

In 2021, IANGEL joined an amicus brief in support of nine women working at the Dallas County Jail, as they were denied the ability to control their work schedules on the basis of their gender. On August 18th, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting en banc, overruled the decision made in Hamilton v. Dallas County. The court ruled that the County’s sex-based scheduling policy violates the Title VII prohibition against sex discrimination. The employees can now freely demonstrate that the scheduling policy put in place by Dallas County illegally discriminated against them based on their sex. Read the full opinion here.

IANGEL supports Afghan Women Human Rights Defenders

IANGEL signed a statement condemning the Taliban’s ban on women’s work within the United Nations system and demanding the UN suspend its activities in Afghanistan until the ban is lifted. In December of 2022, the Taliban dealt another devastating blow to human rights for Afghan women by banning them from working for UN entities. The letter, led by non-profit organization Femena and Afghan women human rights defenders, urges the UN to stand by its principles and pressure the Taliban to reverse the ban. It also asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to retract a statement from Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed on the possible recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate governing body. Read the letter in full here.

Supporting Protection Against Third-Party Harassment in Washington State

IANGEL signed onto an amicus curiae brief by the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), arguing that Washington state and federal anti-discrimination laws must protect against work-related third-party harassment in LaRose v. King County, Washington. The brief outlines the importance of protecting workers beyond the physical confines of an office, as well as the importance of civil rights and protections against sex harassment and other prohibited harassment by third parties in the workplace. Read the full amicus brief here.

Championing Reproductive Health Rights in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA

We also signed onto a NWLC amicus curiae brief along with over 200 reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations in support of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in the case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA. The brief argues that mifepristone, one of two medications to terminate an early pregnancy, is safe, effective, and widely used, and is crucial for individuals needing reproductive care in areas that restrict it. Read the full amicus brief here.

Advocacy for Gender Equality, U.S. Policy Concerns, and International Support

Summary of signed letters and statements on various gender equality issues:

A letter to the House and Senate State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittees requesting an increase in investment and commitment to global gender equality programs in the FY 2025 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill and Committee report, as well as to fully fund the International Affairs Budget at $70.9 billion. This funding is not only necessary to advance gender equality, but can promote sustainable development, strengthen national security, and reduce poverty around the world.
A letter to Vice President Kamala Harris, requesting that she convene a high-level event to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD +30) and celebrate and affirm U.S. commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and international development.
A letter written by the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security calling on UN Member States to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in all aspects of peace and security. This year, 617 civil society signatories from 100 countries around the world have endorsed the letter, signaling powerful global support for this initiative.
A letter written by ICRW to request at least $3.45 billion for global gender equality in the Office of Management and Budget’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request. This represents the proportional increase needed to scale up to 20 percent of the Official Development Assistance (ODA)’s gender equality work over the next four years.
A letter to the Office of Management and Budget requesting increased funding for international family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) programs, and to address policies that limit the effectiveness of these programs in the President’s Budget Request for fiscal year (FY) 2025.
A letter to Ambassador Samantha Power, thanking her for her work on passing the 2023 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy, but also expressing concerns that this policy does not do enough to ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment will be prioritized and mainstreamed by the U.S. government.
A letter expressing concern for the gender-related programming cuts proposed in the House Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill. The reduction of funds for gender equality-related programs would have serious implications for economic development, global health, humanitarian, and peace-building efforts around the world. Deprioritizing these critical programs also sends a dangerous message and diminishes the U.S.’ position as a global leader of gender equity.
We also signed on to officially support the Support UNFPA Funding Act. This act ensures that the U.S. contributes to the United Nations (UN) Population Fund, an agency of the United Nations that promotes global gender equality, empowerment of women and girls, and provides life-saving resources to women.